So Much to Say, So Little Time

I have been in training all week at eBay again, so I haven't had much time to update my blog. Don't worry, I still think about all of you now and then and wonder if you think of me too...lost in the eBay world with no outside communication...

 

Things are pretty good around here. Sarah got her braces off this week and her smile is just tremendous. Lindi and Sarah are going to the American Idol concert tonight - kind of a mommy daughter date - and to answer your question, no, I didn't want to go. My sister and her husband has the tickets, but my brother in law has a funeral to attend in St George, so they offered the tickets to us. (My heart and thoughts go out to Denise and Ray at the loss of Ray's Aunt).

 

In other news, an old friend has come back to town to restart her life after going through her fourth stint in alcohol rehab. In the past week, she has called me twice, both times drunk out of her mind and asking for help.

 

See, here is my dilemma - I always want to be there for my friends - those of you who know me personally know I am an open door when it comes to my friends. But how do you help someone when you don't even know how? Should I join Al-Anon? Should I kick her to the curb until she gets her crap together? I've never had a substance abuse problem that has cost me my life, so I am really at a loss here. Some feedback on this issue would be great.

 

In other words... AAAAAAAAAARRRRGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

 

Anyway, back to training.  I like being able to make the internet safer for eBay trading! ::smile:: 

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Z It is better to be Hated for who you are
              than to be Loved for who you are Not...

I'm BACK!

Sorry it's taken me so long to blog... it's been a whirlwind here at work. I started my new training at eBay on Monday, and this company is much much more than I ever expected. The values system and the way they treat not only their employees but how they strive to treat their members is incredible. I know I've made the right decision, even if it is a temporary cut in pay, to come here. Plus, being able to see Chet every day is a bonus! :)

The people in my training class are pretty cool. I've met a couple people I hope to stay in contact with - Corrine and Justin. Corrine RAWKS! (ha ha) sorry. She's in a band, has purple hair, plays guitar and piano and is just a cool person. Justin is "family," a massage therapist and has a quirky sense of humor, which is fun to be around.

Things are pretty good around the home front. Sarah and Lindi are working and the cats are healthy. I can't say there is a lot to report, other than we are doing well.

I will try and be more proactive on the Blogging. Until then, be safe and happy!

GREAT JOB EVERYONE!

Tubby got enough money from all you wonderful bloggers to go to Fall Semester at University of New Orleans. In fact, she got more than she hoped for, just from her loyal fans and friends and those who all know what it's like to work and work and still not have enough to go to college.

Wow.

For the past two weeks, I've been everywhere. Working. Off to College Station and Austin, Texas. Up to Chicago. And while I've been busy, so have some other people.

I've made tuition!! Thanks to all you guys who donated ( a total of $1123! Whoah! ) and who linked to the site. Extreme thanks to C in Salt Lake for words of encouragement and to G in Texas ($250? I was not expecting that much at all. I love you).

I've made my schedule for next semester (21hrs... whew!) and because I didnt' have to scrape up all this money, I've even got a little left over from working to buy books. Life is good.

Thanks again, everyone.
A lot.

You are welcome, Tubaluva.

So, if you want to contribute to help with her books and supplies, that would be awesome, too. Keep your Karma up. She is a great girl, yo. She deserves to know she is loved.

On the last day of my previous job...

Happiness is... a venti Caramel Macchiato given to me as a gift (with a long hug) from the Starbucks guy in our building as a farewell present. Yeah, he made me cry.

So, here it is. My last day. I have boxes and bags and stuff to throw away and pack up. Many people are genuinely sad I am going, I was surprised. I guess I shouldn't be, I've made many friends here. Linz gave me a head shot photo with "To my biggest fan, Love Lindsay" on it, and I died laughing (along with some organic homegrown catnip... my babies love their Auntie Linz). Linz also brought me a book ("We're Just Like You - Only Prettier, Confessions of a Tarnished Southern Belle") and a beautiful picture frame.

I gave Lindsay a hanging Sun*Moon*Stars hanging charm to put in her cubicle so she will think of me when she's working. I gave Michelle my Vote for Pedro t-shirt and Angie my Vote for Pedro boondoggle. I gave Stacey (my Chocolate girlfriend) a pear candle. These are the people who I will remember and will remain friends after I leave. In fact, Stacey is giving her notice today to work for Coca-Cola and we will be right across the street from one another!

My co-worker Kelli gave me a package of Twinkies (my favorite cake treat). My team brought me a Snickers cake and a beautiful card at a surprise 'emergency meeting' yesterday. It is evident that I will be missed here, but I am grateful I didn't burn my bridges and could come back to work here if I wanted to.

Two ladies I work with (but not directly) were almost close to tears yesterday. One said, "But you're so good, you shouldn't go!" It kinda makes me feel guilty, but I think I need the change and I am happy about it. It feels clean, like I am starting a new life, which I am in a way. I know eBay will be good for me.

No, the money is not better. I have to wait 3 months for benefits. But when I do get benefits, they will be Domestic Partner Benefits. The stock options are incredible. Profit sharing. I will be appreciated. I will be valued. I will be happy.

They say, "Luck is when preparation meets opportunity." For me, opportunity is a friend who cared enough to say, "Hey, come work with me!" I can't thank Chet enough.

So, here I am. I will miss the U of U and will probably pine for it now and again. But, as in all things, it's now time to move on.

Farewell, Utes!

---

PS: My boss just came to me and asked what my plans were. I told her I wanted to leave at noon, after lunch. She said that sounded great, but I could leave whenever my desk was cleaned off and my timesheet was approved. SWEET!

For today...

Happiness is... coming to work to find presents on your desk from people who will genuinely miss you when you leave... including pictures so you won't forget them.

Maine is Procreatin'

So. Our lovely Maine is going to be a daddy. In October. I already have plans to send one of my famous Baby-grams (as per previously sent to Traci and the Little One)... but I was thinking...

Soooo many people love the Maine, we definately have enough for a Blogger Baby Shower.

This can work several ways. Everyone can agree to send a gift to me, and I will send a HUGE package to Maine (as I know his address and respect his privacy)... or you can donate to PayPal and Maine and the wife can buy baby items from their wishlist...

What do you think?

Happiness Is...

The Lovely Dana over at Pretty Purple Princess issued a challenge back on August 1st. Basically, it was to find something each and every day that means happiness to you.

I have been a slackard. It's the 10th and here I am with my first post. I guess that means I have to do 10 just to start.

Deep breath.

Okay, here goes.

1. Happiness is... reaching down in your pocket and finding the exact amount of change you need for the ice cold Diet Coke you've been craving all day.

2. Happiness is... waking up with enough rest to get through the day yet not so much you feel like being lazy.

3. Happiness is... Cleaning off your desk to finish out your employment and thinking about the impact you have had on the people you work with, work for, and yourself... realizing how far you've come.


4. Happiness is... the smell of a pear candle.

5. Happiness is... a co-worker telling you "I don't know what I would have done if I hadn't met you when I did. You saved my life." And for her to truly mean it.


6. Happiness is... Gladware. Love the Gladware.


7. Happiness is... a clean slate and new opportunities.

8. Happiness is... not having to "work" at a friendship. Just knowing... always knowing.. that she's there for you no mater what.


9. Happiness is... 37 months today, I met my wife. She changed my life.

10. Happiness is... being able to make people smile.

Received in my Mailbox today

I Love You, too, honey.

Meetin' the Scott at Chili's

Scott came home last week and Monday was the first chance he and I got to see one another. We went out to lunch at Chili's and enjoyed buffalo wings, Chicken ceasar salads, eggrolls, chips and salsa and one another's company.

My lunch, the "Triple Play" was awesome. Delicious Chicken Crispers®, mouth-watering Boneless Buffalo Wings and incredible Southwestern Eggrolls. Served with dipping sauces. Nummy stuff. I wonder what they put in their eggrolls, because they are really, really good. I realize they are not authentic, but who really cares?

Scott is well, not looking forward to going back, but willingly going there. He said at this point, while they are trying to supply the Iraqi people with water, schools, and help them rebuild their country, change is very slow and the Iraqi's are not known for their friendliness. They are more of just a simple military presence right now. He said the Kurdish people are very welcoming as compared to the Iraqi's, and he noticed the Kurds have done all they can to make Americans feel welcome and safe. That makes me feel better. Not much, but a little.

Some photos for all of you:

Scott and I, take one. This would have been cute if he would have opened his eyes.











This pic is for a few people over at DogSnot who had the cajones to say that I didn't really have a friend named Scott who was in the Army and stationed in Iraq. Here ya go guys, this is to you from SSG Scott A. Grant.











Scott and I take two. I like this pic, but I wish Scott would have been smiling.

I will be sad to see him go back on Friday, but I have faith he will be alright and will return home safely. Feel free to contact me for his email and snail mail addresses so that you can send him a little something to make his day!

Man Dies After 49 Hours of Computer Games

AP
SEOUL, South Korea - A 28-year-old South Korean man died of exhaustion in an Internet cafe after playing computer games non-stop for 49 hours, South Korean police said Wednesday.

Lee, a resident in the southern city of Taegu who was identified only by his last name, collapsed Friday after having eaten minimally and not sleeping, refusing to leave his keyboard while he played the battle simulation game Starcraft.

Lee was quickly moved to a hospital but died after a few hours, due to what doctors are presuming was a heart attack, police said.

Lee had been fired from his job last month because he kept missing work to play computer games, police said.
Computer games are enormously popular in South Korea, home to professional gamers who earn big money through sponsorships and television stations devoted to broadcasting matches.

Do I really need to comment on this one? Other than, I have played Starcraft and Warcraft. I understand. 49 hours isn't much in my estimation for games of this caliber. Wimp.

Tale of Two Earplugs

Last night, before bed, Lindi finally decides to clean out her carry-on from her trip to Vegas. It's full of the usual things - promotional stuff from Coca-Cola and McDonald's, pens, keychains... but much to her surprise and delight, she finds a pair of earplugs from when they got to see the Blue Man Group.

 

You wouldn't think a pair of ear plugs would give someone so much joy as this said pair did for this said wife. She was gleeful. Practically ecstatic. Her first reaction, "I'm gunna sleep goooood tonight!"

 

Now, a woman can take this one of two ways. I can step back, think for a moment and be pleased my spouse will rest soundly and enjoy her moments of REM, satisfied with the fact that she works hard, takes great care of me and our duaghter, and deserves this little repose.

 

Or I can be ticked off because it's a not-so-subtle poke at my snoring.

 

I don't think I snore too badly. But, then again, if my father is any indication, I probably could wake the dead. But I am not the only snorerer... snoreee...snore-person in my house. I have been sound asleep and suddenly assaulted by her loud chainsaw snore from time to time. Or even physically assualted in my sleep (but that's another post all together).

 

But I love her. And I believe it is somewhere in my wedding vows to love her despite her sleeping habits.

 

Perhaps earplugs are the key to unlocking a happy marriage. Maybe we should start giving them as wedding gifts. Hmmm... I think I've come up with something here.

Tuesday Meme

What I was doing ten years ago

Let's see, summer of 1995, I was working for the Law Enforcement Academy, had started to date women and I think I had met my first wife, Grace. I was almost 23, I remember thinking that 23 was so old and what the hell was I going to do with the rest of my life.

What I was doing five years ago

2000, 27 years old, my favorite year. I was working for the Larry Miller group, married to Grace, and for some reason, this was a good year for me. I had survived a surgery (gallbladder) and persistant migraines and was raring to go!

What I was doing one year ago

Hmmm... Lindi and I had been married almost a year and we had celebrated her 35th birthday. While I was a mere 31.

Yesterday

Took a pee test for eBay, went to work, had lunch with Scott, went back to work, faked working, went home, made zucchini brownies, ate dinner, watched half of a movie and 3 episodes of Trauma: Life in the ER and went to bed, woke up to our swamp cooler on fire... yeah it was a joyful evening.

5 snacks I enjoy

• chips and salsa
• granola
• buttery popcorn
• fruit (nectarines and pears are my favorite)
• M&M's

5 songs I know all the words to

• "Michael" by Antigone Rising
• "Uninvited" Alanis Morissette
• "Scarecrow" Melissa Etheridge
• "There Is No Arizona" by Jamie O'Neil 
• "There You Are" by Martina McBride (actually performed and recorded this song as a Valentine's Gift for Lindi in 2003)

5 things I would do with $100 million 

• Send Tubbs to College for as long as she wanted to go
• Purchase houses for my parents, Lindi's parents, Us, and all our siblings.
• Live in Italy, Spain and Greece for one year each.
• Start a business - gay wedding consulting
• DONATE a lot to charity.

5 locations I would like to run away to

• Italy
• Spain
• Belize
• Alaska (again)
• Anywhere with Lindi on a road trip!

5 bad habits I have

• smoking (ugh)
• short attention span on days I don't want to work
• procrastination
• setting rules for myself, then letting myself cheat
• starting fights

5 things I like doing

• napping. Not sleeping, napping. There is a distinct difference.
• baking
• exploring small shops
• watching movies
• blogging

5 things I would never wear

• flared jeans
• platforms
• tube top
• Santa suit
• Mascot uniform

5 TV shows I like

• the L word
• ER 
• CSI
• Dave Chappelle
• Law and Order - all of 'em

5 biggest joys of the moment

• start of a new career
• improving health
• the pan of zucchini brownies sitting next to me at work right now
• being able to goof off at work and not worry about being fired
• happy that we survived the CO2 fest from last nights fire

5 favorite toys
(not sure I should really answer this question. I am a lesbian, after all...)

• my crocheting
• my computer
• The Sims 2/CSI for Xbox/Outlaw Volleyball
• Mr. Potato Head 
• the plethora of cat toys in my house

Now I'm tagging

• G-fry
• Tubbs 
• Danielle
• LatinLez
• Penny

On Saturday, it was a Virgo Moon...

Virgo with Virgo rising... hmmm... poor Lindi. I see some of me in this, but not all. Hmmm. Maybe I'm just lazy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You will know if your lover has a Virgo Moon, if she constantly has to analyze everything. This includes how much toothpaste is used per year, what is the best method to clean the rug, and where the furniture should be placed for maximum comfort. The DVD?s will be in alphabetical order, the sheets folded tight, and the floors spotless. So how do you live with such a perfectionist? Let her do what she needs to do and pick-up after yourself! See, these womyn need to be useful! And they are very useful to have around, too! Count yourself lucky to have a Martha Stewart running the household. If you?re smart you will turn over all the bills to her too. It?s no use just letting the cash sit there when it can be working for you, right?

Speaking of work, these womyn are powerhouses. No other sign can crank out as much as a Virgo?because they are driven to get things done. This doesn?t mean they are the CEO type though, they prefer to work in the back where the real work gets done. They don?t need the spotlight like the Leo types and they don?t need the success like the Capricorn types. They just work for the love of work?really! I?m serious! Pay them a decent wage and they will happily churn through piles of paper like no other employee around. Not that they are obsessed or anything, they just can?t stand inefficiency. And if you doubt this, just take a peek at their bookcase. It will be filled with personal improvement books like, The Purpose Driven Life, The Power of Intention, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, and so on, and so forth. You get the drift.
--Lunar Muse

Email of the Day

"I am afraid that bottled water companies are owned and controlled by the right. This is how they are controlling us, and have won the influence in all "red states". How else could you explain such irrational thought?"

DO THIS NOW!

My Tubby is in a financial crisis. She is trying to send herself through college, work two jobs and live on her own at the same time. She is independant, strong and beautiful. She's my milk chocolate girlfriend who I will secretly marry and move away to the Carribean with... if Lindi will let me.

Now, she needs help.

Go here. Donate as much or as little as you can.

We have all been there. If you haven't, then you don't know and should send at least $20.

C'mon, this will help your karma. You know you need a little help, I heard about what you did last weekend.

No excuses. Help Tubby, clean your slate.

I love you, tubaluva.

No, Honey, I don't want to Cuddle...

Man Gets Death for Killing Wife After Sex
By Associated Press

4 hours ago

PANAMA CITY, Fla. - A man who got angry with his wife because she wanted to cuddle after sex when what he really wanted to do was watch sports on television was sentenced to death for killing her with a claw hammer.

Christopher Offord, 30, was sentenced Wednesday by Circuit Judge Dedee Costello, who said the brutality of the crime outweighed any mental problems Offord may have had.

"The defendant struck his wife approximately 70 individual blows after spending a happy interlude with her," the judge said. "Her desire to cuddle after sex does not justify the extremely violent, brutal response of the defendant."

Offord pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the 2004 slaying of Dana Noser, 40, at his apartment.

He confessed to a bartender at a sports bar before his arrest. He told investigators that his wife had been nagging him to come back to bed.

Offord did not speak in court but said in a jailhouse interview in June: "I figured I killed her so I deserve to die."

Why I am Going to Work for eBay

The benefits at eBay kick some royal ass.

1. Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
2. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan, and a Company Match
3. Employee Stock Purchase Plan
4. Tuition Reimbursement
5. Adoption Assistance (ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!! WHUT WHOO!!!)
6. Flexible Spending Accounts
7. Disability Benefits
8. Life Insurance
9. Company Holidays
10. Paid Time Off (PTO)
11. Credit Union affiliations
12. Employee Referral Bonus
13. Bagel Wednesdays! (EVERY Wednesday? Whoa.)
14. Complimentary soft drinks and Starbucks coffee (This should be at the top of the list. Seriously.)
15. Convenient Onsite Services (dry cleaning, chiropractic care, dental service, etc.)
16. On-site Employee Training Courses

And the CEO - is a WOMAN!

 

Meg Whitman
President and CEO, eBay

As president and CEO of eBay since March 1998, Meg Whitman has led the company to become The World's Online Marketplace® and the number one consumer e-commerce site. Meg's expertise in brand building, combined with her consumer technology experience, has helped eBay evolve into a leading company that is reshaping how commerce takes place around the world.

Prior to eBay, Meg was general manager of Hasbro Inc.'s Preschool Division, responsible for global management and marketing of two of the world's best-known children's brands, Playskool and Mr. Potato Head. During her tenure, Meg oversaw the reorganization of the Preschool Division and its resulting return to profitability. From 1995 to 1997, Meg was president and chief executive officer of Florists Transworld Delivery (FTD), the world's largest floral products company. While at FTD, she oversaw its transition from a florist-owned association to a for-profit, privately owned company.

Before FTD, Meg served as president of the Stride Rite Corporation's Stride Rite Division where she was responsible for the launch of the highly successful Munchkin baby shoe line and the repositioning of the Stride Rite brand and retail stores. She has also held the positions of executive vice president for the Keds Division and corporate vice president of strategic planning. Meg spent 1989 to 1992 at the Walt Disney Company, highlighted by her work as senior vice president of marketing for the Disney Consumer Products Division. She also worked for eight years at Bain & Company's San Francisco office where she was a vice president. Meg began her career at Procter & Gamble in Cincinnati where she worked in brand management from 1979 to 1981.

Among Meg?s many accolades, Time named her one of the world?s 100 most influential people in 2004 and 2005; Fortune ranked her one of the 25 most powerful people in business and the most powerful woman in American business in 2004; Worth ranked her number one on its 2002 list of best CEOs; and Business Week has included her on its list of the 25 most powerful business managers annually since 2000.

Meg is on the Board of Directors of Procter & Gamble and Gap Inc. Meg received a Bachelor of Economics from Princeton University and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School.

Cool Feature

Every once in a while, I will be exploring Blogger and discover something new. Today, I discovered that you can email yourself a blog entry. How wicked cool is that?

 

I can easily jump into my email at work and post away every little thought that comes into my head without having to log into Blogger - thus staving off the inevitable firing I would receive from too much time wasted talking about bad food and g-strings.

 

So, dear readers, this post is coming to you not from Blogger, but from my happy little email account. I couldn't be happier. Well, I could, that's a total lie. I am dying for a frappucino from Starbucks. Get on that, will ya?

Update

Sarah is heading up to the U Hospital to see her brother this morning. He is going to be alright.

Read the story here and another great story here.

Thanks to everyone for their well wishes and prayers.

SWEET JESUS!

I just got a call from Lindi.

We had lightning strike at Boy Scout Camp here in Utah last night, killing one boy and electrocuting 3 others. You can ready about it here.

One of the boys at the University Burn Center is Sarah's half-brother, Curtis.

Needless to say, we are praying for him.

Oh, Thank the Goddess

FINALLY. I seem to have gotten all the touches to my blog completed. I am sure I will continue to work on it, but, ya know. Willing and open to suggestions.

So. I bet you all are wondering what has been happening in my life lately. You know, sometimes, I wonder that myself. I look around and think "how have I gotten here?" More importantly, I wonder, "where am I going?"

Last week was a bad week for me physically. Monday night, I had a bit of pain, so i took some medication and ended up sleeping in the fetal position. NOT good for me to do. When I woke up, I had pain everywhere from my breasts to my neck and back. So I took a little medication to relax all those cramping and spasming muscles - and started throwing up. It was nasty. By the time I was done, I had ripped all the muscles in my chest wall. It wasn't pleasant. I was in such bad shape, I even spent the night at my Mother's house. Yes, I was a hurtin' puppy.

I did (after some loving coaxing from Lindi) go to the doctor on Friday. She was so sweet and referred me to a Chiropractor. Not just any chiropractor - HER chiropractor. She said she thinks that a light adjustment and massage therapy would do me good. Okay, no problem.

I went to her Chiro yesterday - and she wasn't kidding. He was the most gentle man I have ever seen. He asked questions, didn't just start popping and cracking. He told me he wouldn't adjust any part of my body I wasn't comfortable with - and he was very true to his word. I brought in my MRI and that was very helpful to him. He gently adjusted my back, putting my shoulder blades and rib cage back where they should be. I cried from relief. He then had me lay down with the TENS (electrical stimulator) machine on a "roller table" to relax my back and chest muscles. It was wonderful!

Plus, when you walk in, it's like walking to a spa - plants, fresh flowers, bottled water for their clients. A 30 minute massage is included with an adjustment and it's covered by my insurance. If I want a full hour, I can pay an additional $25.

I started to get a little headache from all the new movement, but home, ice and a wonderful manicotti dinner made by Lindi fixed that right up!

So, I am at work(even though I would rather be at home), in less pain and waiting to get off work so I can go to... a JOB INTERVIEW for eBay! Yeah, I am excited. Partner Benefits. Gay Environment. Fraud division. Yeah, it's where I belong. Send me your well wishes and good thoughts!